Outrage as European chickens fed pig remains

Many are outraged as the EU is preparing to allow the remains of pig
carcasses to be used in poultry feed, which would save UK farmers millions of
pounds as cereal prices soar.

The practice of using pig remains in chicken feed was
banned in Europe after the BSE crisis ten years ago. This proposal, according
to UK Sunday newspaper The Observer
, has
outraged animal rights campaigners, and Muslim organisations among other groups,
who claim the move would put families at risk, offend religious sensibilities
and lead to a major consumer backlash.

Disaster"There are two
million Muslims in Britain and 25 million in Europe and this move would be a
disaster for every one of them," said Dr Abdel Majid-Katme of the Islamic
Medical Association, adding that this is a sinful idea.

The RSPCA voiced
its concerns about the health risks involved. Additionally, agriculture experts
believe many consumers would be offended by the idea of a return to the use of
animal remains in farm feeds. "I think there will be such a backlash from
consumers that the idea would have to be dropped," said Tom Acamovic, a
nutrition expert based at the Scottish Agricultural College.

Safety
testsThe Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
said it would back the move only if proper safety tests were introduced. "We
understand the European Commission will be submitting a proposal later this
year," said a spokesman. "We would only support it if we were fully satisfied
that appropriate and effective testing had taken place to control the use of
such proteins in poultry feed."

The proposal, however, is backed by a
former risk assessment adviser for the Food Standards Agency, Philip Comer of
DNV Consulting. "The by-products of slaughter are a very valuable source of
protein,' he said. 'We should not be wasting it."